Honduras lawmakers approve impeachment process

The Honduras National Congress [official website, in Spanish] on Tuesday approved constitutional reforms to set up an impeachment process [press release, in Spanish]. The amendments [El Heraldo report, in Spanish] follow a 2009 coup [JURIST report] that removed former president Manuel Zelaya from office. There would be two steps in the new impeachment process. First, the House Special Committee would submit a report and then congress would debate and vote. The amendments must still be approved by the incoming Congress, which convenes Friday.

Honduras has been attempting to resolve conflicts between the branches of government for some time. Last December Honduran lawmakers passed a police corruption law [JURIST report]. Also in December the Honduran congress voted [JURIST report] to remove Supreme Court justices. The Honduran Truth and Reconciliation Commission declared last June that the coup was unconstitutional [JURIST report] but stated that former Zelaya was culpable when he ignored orders of the Supreme Court. Zelaya signed an agreement [JURIST report] in May 2011 allowing his return to the country after nearly two years in exile. Earlier that month a Honduran court dismissed the two remaining conspiracy charges [JURIST report] against Zelaya, clearing the way for his return to the country.

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